AIBU to not see music festivals as a teenage rite of passage?

This seems a strange thread. Surely if your kids loves live music they will want to go to a festival, if that’s not their thing then they’ll pass.
I guess there will be some who just see Reading etc on SM but don’t get what the experience will be like. It certainly seems the case that some young people don’t really get it, if you look at Tik Tok!

My 16 year old is there. She’s camped loads before, we have been to festivals and we go to gigs a lot. Shes taken some alcohol but obviously can’t drink in the actual arena. Shes hopefully wouldn’t take drugs; we have had many conversations about that and I hope I have equipped her with the wherewithal to refuse and be on her guard.
She absolutely loves live music, doesn’t give a monkeys about being wet and cold and listened to me about taking waterproofs and how to stay warm. No issues with makeup and hair; she couldn’t care less! She’s having the absolute time of her life and has seen so many of her favourite artists.
Watching SM it is definitely not the festival experience I’d want! My eldest feels too old to go at 24 but loved it in Y11 and 12. Live and let live I think- can’t wait to see her tomorrow!

Are you the magaluf poster?

Really?

I never went myself. There was only one festival in Ireland that I could have gone to (Féile - the trip to Tipp) but I was an impoverished student and couldn't afford it. Only one of my friends went to it. Music festivals weren't so much of a thing back then.

Electric Picnic is all the rage now and most young people I know are there this weekend. DD and her friends have all gone, as has my nephew and his girlfriend. God love them, it has rained solidly the entire weekend. I'm delighted they're making the most of the opportunities and I'm sure in the years ahead (when they're tied down with kids or busy with their careers), they'll relish the memories and the photos.

They did have some gear stolen one year. I think there were a lot of reports of thefts that year. But it didn't stop them from going back the following year.

I was chatting to a young girl in the supermarket and I mentioned it and she said she wouldn't be into camping or getting wet or going without showers etc. So clearly it's not everyone's cup of tea.

YABU. It might not be your experience but it's a perfectly reasonable thing for teens to enjoy. For context 1 of mine did, the other wasn't bothered. I love festivals. It's bateshit to dismiss because you're not interested.

Aren't you dear?

HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went in the 90s and it put me off for life. Absolutely hated the toilet/ sleeping/ showering situation that goes with staying in a tent. Also got totally sick of being around people non stop for an entire weekend. But I’m quite an anti social soul.

I'll be sober in the morning.
You'll still be a snob.

Thanks for translating.

Stone cold sober in the morning. You'll still be a snob.

^^ it was this that sounded like you were saying you went to finishing school (and hence too refined to 'understand festivals'). I read it the same way at first too, until I realised you meant after you'd left school .

Loads go round here and yes it’s seem as a bit of a RoP. But all in, the cost is probably nearly £500 so certainly not all can afford it

But teenagers have being going to festivals for decades.

I’m nearly 40 and Leeds fest was the main festival for my peer group back in the 2000’s.

& Creamfields has been around since the late 90’s.

Some people like them, some not. I wouldn’t say they’re a rite of passage.

One of my children went to some when he was 16-18. He liked the music but hated the showers or not showering, the toilets, the drugs, the dickheads and being uncomfortable sleeping in a tent.

My other child isn’t interested in festivals at all.

The both love concerts and a nice hotel for after.

I think by rite of passage a music festival is one of those things young people should experience if they can (obviously only if they enjoy live music, big crowds, stick with their friends etc). I went to quite a few in my younger years but I was 18 and over. Getting rained on in a tent that's not waterproof, braving the toilets, getting mucked up to the eyeballs but also laughing and dancing with friends and sitting in a field listening to your favourite artist and the sun comes out. Drinking isn't a necessity but the first pint is always the best and chips in a field taste amazing. Even getting home into a warm bath and your own bed is the best feeling ever. It has it's ups and downs but that's what's great about it. The solidarity of everyone coming together for a good time. I worked a few concerts too pulling pints and we always got to see the last bands.

Obviously not all teens go to festivals, but for those who do it's often a bit of a rite of passage.

I went to festivals as a teen and 20 something in the 80s and 90s. Really enjoyed them. Some of my best memories with friends from those days were at festivals. Went again in my 40s taking my young kids and had a great time. I drink, but didn't when I first went at 15 and 16 and didn't when I took my own kids. Still a fantastic time. I'm not as keen on the truly huge festivals like Glastonbury. Prefer smaller ones with a focus that's a bit more artsy than just music (but I definitely want the music!).

So I think you did miss out, OP, yes.

I wasn’t a massive drinker when I was a teen, as I used to get the runs and really bad head aches only after a small amount of alcohol.

My first festival was Leeds when I was 17 in 2005. I loved it. I loved (and still do) Indie/Rock music and getting to see so many bands at once was just the most amazing experience. It was and still is amazing value for money.

I hated the actual camping. Washing with a bottle of water and baby wipes, living off biscuits, no sleep, losing your tent, but making new friends from all over and having the best laughs along the way. It does seem like a rite of a passage.

You don’t have to think so though and that’s perfectly okay.

It's only a 'rite of passage' for the relatively privileged who like a certain type of music.